Newcastle United CEO David Hopkinson makes bold 2030 claim
Newcastle United will sign a goalkeeper in the summer transfer window - but will Aaron Ramsdale or James Trafford be on their list?
Newcastle United and Eddie Howe must solve a keeper conundrum on Tyneside, as the Magpies continue to search for a true, long-term No.1.
While Nick Pope remains the main man in the eyes of head coach Howe, an injury has seen Aaron Ramsdale assume the gloves, giving the Southampton loan man a chance to stake his claim to edge Pope down the pecking order.
However, one name that continues to be linked, despite a move falling down last summer, is Man City goalie, James Trafford.
NUFC transfers - is a move for James Trafford on the cards?
Trafford, to many, seems like the common sense switch for the Magpies next summer, especially with his game time now limited due to Gianluigi Donnarumma assuming the gloves not long after the England prospect’s arrival.
However, it’s not as straight-forward as many seem to think - or as easy a deal to do now, compared to the previous two summers Newcastle have tried to tie down the player.
Last summer Trafford was seemingly a Newcastle player in all but name, with the player telling those close to him and friends in the game he would be a summer arrival on Tyneside. However, a clause in his Burnley contract meant when former club Man City came calling, he was obliged to switch to the Etihad.
And while that has not maybe brought about as much time between the sticks as the player, who has hopes on making Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad next summer, it has made a deal for Newcastle much harder to do. The player is now on considerably higher wages than he was, understandably, at Burnley. NewcastleWorld understands wages are thought to be a potential stumbling block.
And secondly, the working relationship between Man City and Newcastle behind the scenes is far from cordial, made more complicated by City’s very active interest in Tino Livramento.
At this stage, a move for Trafford, although not totally off the cards, seems unlikely.
Truth about Aaron Ramsdale future at Newcastle United
Despite largely playing second fiddle to Pope for much of the season, England keeper Ramsdale is said to be very happy at Newcastle - and is keen to stay at the club.
Newcastle can make his loan deal permanent at the end of the season, a move which has a set price, taking the full cost more than £20million. The Magpies paid a £4million loan fee for the ex-Arsenal stopper.
It remains to be seen whether Newcastle will trigger that deal.
Nick Pope or Aaron Ramsdale decision taken out of Eddie Howe’s hands
Asked if Pope would have started if fit, Howe replied: “Good try! That's something for me to know.
“Nick, we're disappointed to lose him. We can't afford to lose any player. He suffered an injury just towards the end of training.
“I didn't name the team yesterday. So we were just training as normal and he just, I think, wrong-footed on a shot and just felt something in his groin more after training than sort of in that moment.
“And, yes, I hope he's not out for long. We need him back. He'll have a scan in the next few days to find the damage.”
Eddie Howe praises Aaron Ramsdale performance v Everton
Commenting on Ramsdale’s performance against Everton, Howe said: “Nick and Aaron are very different goalkeepers. They've got different strengths. Still very effective, both of them.
“And Aaron, I think, showed his qualities with the ball at his feet today. He distributed the ball very well. It wasn't overly worked, necessarily, in terms of shots, but what he did have to handle it.
“I thought he did well. I don't think he'd do much with the goal. So I think it's a good day for him and for the back four in front of him. Just a good day for the team in general, really.”
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